Similar articles

Abstract: To improve the working and living environment of submarine crews, an integrated system of CO₂ removal and o₂ regeneration was designed to work under experimental conditions for 50 people in a submarine cabin during prolonged voyages. The integrated system comprises a solid amine water desorption (SAWD) unit for CO₂ collection and concentration, a sabatier reactor for CO₂ reduction and a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) unit for o₂ regeneration by electrolysis. The performances of the SAWD-Sabatier-SPE integrated system were investigated. The experimental results from the SAWD unit showed that the average CO₂ concentration in the CO₂ storage tank was more than 96% and the outlet CO₂ concentration was nearly zero in the first 45 min, and less than 1/10 of inlet CO₂ after 60 min when input CO₂ was 0.5% (1000 L). About 950 L of CO₂ was recovered with a recovery rate of 92%~97%. The output CO₂ concentration was less than 0.2%, which showed that the adsorption-desorption performance of this unit was excellent. In the CO₂ reduction unit we investigated mainly the start-up and reaction performance of the sabatier reactor. The start-up time of the sabatier reactor was 6, 8 and 10 min when the start-up temperature was 187.3, 179.5 and 168 °C, respectively. The product water was colorless, transparent, and had a pH of 6.9~7.5, and an electrical conductivity of 80 µs/cm. The sum of the concentration of metal ions (Ru³⁺, Al³⁺, Pb²⁺) was 0.028% and that of nonmetal ions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻) was 0.05%. In the o₂ regeneration unit, the O₂ generation rate was 0.48 m³/d and the quantity was 2400 L, sufficient to meet the submariners’ basic oxygen demands. These results may be useful as a basis for establishing CO₂-level limits and o₂ regeneration systems in submarines or similar enclosed compartments during prolonged voyages.

[1] Ai, S.K., Zhou, D., Sun, J.B., Hou, W.H., Zhou, K.H., 2000. A study of temperature catalyst for sabatier reaction. Space Medicine and Medical Engineering, 13(2):277-280.

[2] Araki, T., Taniuchi, T., Sunakawa, D., Nagahama, M., Onda, K., Kato, T., 2007. Cycle analysis of low and high H₂ utilization SOFC/gas turbine combined cycle for CO₂ recovery. Journal of Power Sources, 171(2):464-470.

[3] Chen, Z.W., Xu, W.G., Guan, Y.M., Zhang, Q., 2006. Basic theoretical analysis for CO₂ removal in submarine atmosphere by solid amine. Chemical Defence in Ship, 28(4):86-87.

[4] Choi, P., Bessarabov, D.G., Datta, R., 2004. A simple model for solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) water electrolysis. Solid State Ionics, 175(1-4):535-539.

[5] Diaz, E., Munoz, E., Vega, A., Ordonez, S., 2008. Enhancement of the CO₂ retention capacity of X zeolites by Na- and Cs-treatments. Chemosphere, 70(8):1375-1382.

[6] Gray, M.L., Champagne, K.J., Fauth, D., Baltrus, J.P., Pennline, H., 2008. Performance of immobilized tertiary amine solid sorbents for the capture of carbon dioxide. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2(1):3-8.

[7] Keshavarz, P., Fathikalajahi, J., Ayatollahi, S., 2008. Analysis of CO₂ separation and simulation of a partially wetted hollow fiber membrane contactor. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 152(3):1237-1247.

[8] Kunugi, A., Fujioka, M., Yasuzawa, M., Inaba, M., Ogumi, Z., 1998. Electroreduction of 2-cyclohexen-1-one on metal-solid polymer electrolyte composite electrodes. Electrochimica Acta, 44(4):653-657.

[9] Li, J., Ai, S.K., Zhou, K.H., 1999. An experimental study of the Sabatier CO₂ reduction subsystem for space station. Space Medicine and Medical Engineering, 12(2):121-124.

[10] Liu, J.X., Hou, W.H., 2004. Study on Ru-based catalyst used in reductive reaction of CO₂. Space Medicine and Medical Engineering, 17(6):457-460.

[11] Meng, Y.Y., Shang, C.X., 1994. A study on CO₂ methanization reduction technology. Space Medicine and Medical Engineering, 6-7(2):115-117.

[12] Millet, P., Andolfatto, F., Durand, R., 1995. Design and performance of a solid polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 93:87-93.

[13] Mouritz, A.P., Gellert, E., Burchill, P., Challis, K., 2001. Review of advanced composite structures for naval ships and submarines. Composite Structures, 53(1):21-41.

[14] Otsuji, K., Sawada, T., Satoh, S., Kanda, S., Matsumura, H., Kondo, S., Otsubo, K., 1987. Preliminary experimental results of gas recycling subsystems except carbon dioxide concentration. Advances in Space Research, 7(4):69-72.

[15] Rasten, E., Hagen, G., Tunold, R., 2003. Electrocatalysis in water electrolysis with solid polymer electrolyte. Electrochimica Acta, 48(25-26):3945-3952.

[16] Ross, C.T.F., 2006. A conceptual design of an underwater vehicle. Ocean Engineering, 33(16):2087-2104.

[17] Russell, J.F., Klaus, D.M., 2007. Maintenance, reliability and policies for orbital space station life support systems. Reliability Engineering and System Safety, 92(6):808-820.

[18] Shen, L.P., Zhou, K.H., 2000. Testing of crew cabin air revitalization system in space station. Chinese Journal of Space Science, 10(20):57-76.

[19] Tanaka, Y., Uchinashi, S., Saihara, Y., Kikuchi, K., Okay, T., Ogumic, Z., 2003. Dissolution of hydrogen and the ratio of the dissolved hydrogen content to the produced hydrogen in electrolyzed water using SPE water electrolyzer. Electrochimica Acta, 48(27):4013-4019.

[20] Tanaka, Y., Kikuchi, K., Saihara, Y., Ogumic, Z., 2005. Bubble visualization and electrolyte dependency of dissolving hydrogen in electrolyzed water using Solid-Polymer-Electrolyte. Electrochimica Acta, 50(25-26):5229-5236.

[21] Tang, J.K., Ba, J.Z., Jiang, Y.X., Li, J., 2006. Review of solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis. Chemical Defence on Ship, 3(20-25):20-21.

[22] Zhang, H.B., 2006. Submarine atmosphere pollution and detection technology. Chemical Defenses on Ships, 2:1-5.

[23] Zhang, J., Singh, R., Webley, P.A., 2008. Alkali and alkaline-earth cation exchanged chabazite zeolites for adsorption based CO₂ capture. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 111(1-3):478-487.

[24] Zhang, Y.J., Wang, C., Wan, N.F., Liu, Z.X., Mao, Z.Q., 2007. Study on a novel manufacturing process of membrane electrode assemblies for solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis. Electrochemistry Communications, 9(4):667-670.

[25] Zhao, H.L., Hu, J., Wang, J.J., Zhou, L.H., Liu, H.L., 2007. CO₂ capture by the amine-modified mesoporous materials. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 23(6):801-806.

[26] Zhao, Y.S., 2001. Technology research of solid amine CO₂ removal. Naval Vessel Science and Technology, 3:23-25.

[27] Zhou, K.H., Fu, L., Han, Y.Q., Li, J.R., 2003. Research and development of technology of regenerative environmental control and life support system. Space Medicine and Medical Engineering, 16(5):566-572.

[28] Zhou, K.H., Han, Y.Q., Wu, B.Z., Zhao, P.S., 2004. Testing result and analysis of a regenerable solid amine CO₂ control system. Space Medicine and Medical Engineering, 17(4):287-291.

[29] Zhou, K.H., Yin, Y.L., Wang, F., 2007. The design and experiment of solid polymer electrolyte water electrolytic cell. Space Medicine and Medical Engineering, 20(6):427-431.